Transmission control external tube



Jan. 5, 1960 c. w, LlNCOLN ETAL 2,919,600

TRANSMISSION CONTROL EXTERNAL TUBE Original Filed Aug. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 ll zyll x A '1 41.7 a 1 52 50 32 4 4 J 27 2/ i y? 2a I 7 24 Z wan v '5 l '1 i K9 AL A Z 2?? 05am ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1960 c. w. LINCOLN ETAL 2,919,600

TRANSMISSION CONTROL EXTERNAL TUBE Original Filed Aug. 16, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,919,600 TRANSMISSION CONTROL EXTERNAL TUBE Original application August 16, 1954, Serial No. 449,832,

now Patent No. 2,844,970, dated July 29, 1958. Divided and this application January 2, 1958, Serial No.

16 Claims. (Cl. 74-484) This application is a divisional of our application Ser. No. 449,832, filed August 16, 1954, now matured into Patent No. 2,844,970.

This invention relates to an improved transmission control linkage mounted on the steering column of a vehicle and more particularly to a control linkage wherein the control mechanism is mounted externally of the steering column.

The manual control mechanism for automotive vehicle transmissions is conventionally mounted on the mast jacket or steering column of the vehicle with the hand lever located beneath the steering Wheel. The inner end of the hand lever is pivoted on the steering column and actuates the control linkage connected to the transmissions. The outer hand grip end is located beneath the steering wheel rim and is pivotally rotated about the steer- -ing column for the shifting movement and pivoted axially for the selecting movement.

In one illustrated embodiment of the invention, a control linkage mechanism, is mounted on the steering column of an automotive vehicle. The handle, having a hand grip portion adjacent the steering wheel rim, is pivoted for axial movement to a bowl or fulcrum member rigidly mounted on an external control tube mounted for rotation on the steering'column. When the hand lever is rotated about the steering column axis, the bowl and control tube rotate. A pair of shift levers operably connected to the transmission shift mechanism are rotatably mounted on the lower end of the control tube. The hand lever is also pivotally connected to a selector rod extending axially between'the external control tube and the steering column which actuates a clutching mechanism to selectively clutch one of the shift levers to the control tube. When the hand lever is pivoted axially the selector lever connects one shift lever to the control tube. Then when the hand lever is rotated that one shift lever is actuated to shift the transmission.

In an alternative construction employed with transmissions merely having a shift control the selector rod provides a detent mechanism.

An object of the invention is to provide in a control mechanism for a transmission mounted on a steering column, an improved mechanism wherein the control movement is transmitted by a rotatably mounted tube and the rotary position of the tube is controlled by a detent rod located between the tube and the steeringcolumn and controlled by the hand lever.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an external control tube transmission control mechanism, a detent me'chanism operated by axial pivotal movement of the handle to limit the rotary movement of the external control tube. i

"ice

Another object of the invention is to provide in an external tube transmission control linkage, a clutch to selectively engage either of two transmission operating levers in response to axial pivotal movement of the control lever.

These and other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description and drawings of several illustrative embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the upper portion of the transmission control linkage with parts in section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a section view of Fig. l on the line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a view of Fig. 1 taken on the section line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a modification of the upper portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in section of Fig. 4 on the line 5-5.

Fig. 6 shows in section the lower end of the control illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of Fig. 6 on the line 7-7.

This invention relates to an external tube transmission control linkage where the external tube, mounted for rotary movement about the steering column, is rotated for the shift movement by rotation of the hand lever about the steering column. In order to provide either a detent mechanism for use in automatic transmission shifting where four rotary positions are required or the cross shift or selector mechanism to be used with synchomesh transmissions employing the conventional H-type shift, there is additional control mechanism located within the external control tube to perform these functions without requiring axial movement of the external control tube. In a control mechanism of the H-type for a sliding gear or synchromesh transmission illustrated in Fig. 1, the axial or shifting movement of the control lever moves a rod located within the control tube axially to alternatively clutch either of the shifting levers (Fig. 6) to the external tube. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4 which is used with automatic transmissions, the axial movement of the shift lever operates the detent which is normally used to prevent shifting into reverse unless the shift lever is pivoted axially toward the steering wheel rim.

The shift control linkage illustrated in Fig. 1 is mounted on a conventional steering column 11 supporting and housing the steering shaft 10. The steering shaft 10 is supported at the top in ball bearings (not shown) within the ball bearing housing 12 secured to the upper end portion of the steering column 11. The steering wheel (not shown) is fixed to the upper end of steering shaft 10. The direction signal switch housing 14 is located at the top of the steering column and has an integral central support ring 15 mounted about the steering column to support the switch housing on the column.

The cylindrical control tube 18 is positioned about the steering column and is attached at its upper end to the bowl assembly 19 which has an outer portion having a generally conical shape to form a smooth fairing line between the directional signal switch housing 14 and the control tube 18. The outer portion of bowl 19 has at its lower edge a re-entrant cylindrical flange 20 extending upwardly and contacting the outer surface of the control tube. The bowl 19 also has an inner portion or centrally located cylindrical bearing sleeve 21 of smaller diameter than flange 20 which is connected to the bowl, as illusbearing portion 21. Thus the bowl assembly which is generally die cast in one piece, but may be made of stampin s. consists of bowl portion 19, the re-entrant flange 20, the center bearing portion 21 and the interconnecting members. straps 22 and ribs 23. In order to secure the control tube to the bowl. the upper end of the control tube has recesses 25 which receive the straps 22 and a longer recess 26 providing an opening between the ribs 23. Tabs 27 located intermediate the straps and ribs are bent outwardly from the upper end wall of the control tube 18 to a position overlaying the top of re-entrant flange to lock the bowl 19 to the end of the control tube. The recesses prevent relative rotation and the recesses 25 and the tabs 27 prevent relative axial movement between the control tube 18 and the bowl 19. The inner opposed portions of ribs 23 are formed, as best shown in Fig. 2. to provide a pair of opposed parallel guide surfaces 28 and spaced guide surfaces 29 located tangentially of bearing sleeve 21 to guide the upper end of the selector rod 46.

The bowl and tube assembly is supported on the steering column at a reduced portion 30 which fits within and provides a bearing for the bearing portion 21 of the bowl. The lower edge of the bearing portion 21 rests on the shoulder 31 at the lower edge of the reduced portion 30 of tube 18. The Belleville spring 32 contacts the upper end surface of the bearing portion 21 to prevent relative axial movement of the bowl and tube assembly relative to the steering column 11. The Belleville spring is held in position by a washer 33 which has a tongue 34 bent upwardly and positioned in a slot 35 in the reduced portion 30 of the steering column 11 to prevent relative rotation between the washer and the steering column. A wire snap ring 38 is positioned above the washer and has inwardly extending undulations fitting into slots 38' in the steering column to position the snap ring like the snap ring 22 described below. Thus, the how] 19 provides a rotatable support member for the control tube 18 on the support 11.

At one side of the bowl member. there is an outwardly extending tubular portion -0 having a socket 41 at its end to receive a ball 42 positioned between the ends of the handle 43. The handle 43 is pivoted in the socket 41 by means of a pin 44 which passes through suitable apertures in both the socket and the handle to provide for relative axial movement toward and away from the steering wheel rim but to prevent rotary movement with respect to the steering column between the handle 43 and the bowl I9. Thus the handle 43 may be pi oted axially with respect to the bowl but when the handle 43 is rotated relative to the steering column, it rotates the bowl and control tube assembly. A boot 45 of rubber or other flexible material grips the end of the tubular portion 40 of the bowl and the handle to seal the pivot.

The selector control rod 46 is mounted between the control tube 18 and the steering column 11 and has at its upper end an aperture 47 which receives the rounded end portion 48 of the handle 43. Though in the illustrated embodiment the control rod 46 is made up of two parts welded together adjacent the upper end. it will be appreciated that it may also be made in one part with the hole formed therein. The pivotal connection between the handle 43 and the rod 46 provided by the bulbous end or rounded enlargement 48 and the aperture 47 in the control rod permits sliding movement of the handle in the rod so that axial pivotal movement of the handle can move the control rod 46 axially without lateral movement. The spring 49 surrounding the end of the handle 43 engages the shoulder 43' on the handle and the face of the control rod 46 surrounding the aperture 47 to urge the rod 46 into firm contact with the bearing guide surfaces 29 on the bowl (Fig. 2) to position the rod 46 longitudinally with respect to the handle. It will be noted that there is a recess between the surfaces 29 to provide clearance for the bulbous end 48 of the handle.

The guide surfaces 28 are parallel to the handle and prevent movement of the rod 46 transverse to the handle. A rubber, or other soft material, sleeve 24 surrounds the handle between the shoulder 43' and the ball 42 to pro vide a noise eliminating bumper for the handle. The control tube 18 and rod 46 are integral with or connected to the control tube 100 and rod 99 of Fig. 6 to actuate shift levers 108 and 109.

The steering column is supported by a suitable support means as shown for example in the above parent Patent 2,844,970.

A modified form of the transmission control linkage is shown in Fig. 4 which provides a four position rotary movement of the control tube 18. This control linkage could be used with any transmission requiring a rotary multiposition control mechanism such as the automatic transmissions now in use. In the following description of Fig. 4 the same numerals employed in Fig. 1 are em ployed where the parts have not been changed. As illustrated in Fig. 4 the steering shaft 10 is supported on the steering column 11 by a bearing 12. The direction signal switch housing 14 has a central opening defined by the supporting ring 15 which fits around the upper reduced portion 30 of the steering column 11. A portion 7 of the steering wheel 13 is located above the direction signal switch housing. The bowl member 79 has a reentrant flange 20 connected by straps 22 and web 23 to a central cylindrical bearing member 21 which fits around the reduced portion 30 of the steering column and rests against the shoulder 31 at the lower end of the reduced portion. At the upper edge of the bearing portion 21 the Belleville spring 32 resiliently holds the bowl in place on the steering column. The Belleville spring 32 is positioned by a washer 80 which is secured by a wire snap ring 38. The washer 80 has an upturned flange 34 located within the plane of the wall of the reduced portion 30 of the steering column and positioned within an aperture 35 in this wall to prevent relative rotation between the washer 80 and the steering column. The washer 80 also has a curcumferential detent extension 81 located at one side of the washer and provided with anaperture 82 to provide locking detent or stop surfaces for the control mechanism described below.

At the side of the bowl 79 between the webs 23 there is a tubular extension 40 which terminates in a socket portion 41. The ball portion 42 of the hand lever or handle 43 fits within the socket and the inner portion of the handle extends through the tubular portion 40 of the bowl. The pin 44 passes through apertures in the handle and the socket to pivotally mount the handle on the bowl for pivotal movement in planes containing the axi of the steering column or axially of the steering column. A bumper sleeve 24 of rubber or other similar dampening material is positioned on the handle between the ball 42 and the Shoulder 43. There is no relative movement between the handle 43 and the bowl 79 in a rotary direction about the steering column axis and thus rotary move ment of the handle rotates the bowl and control tube assembly. A U-shaped bracket 84 extends downwardly from the ribs 23 and is provided with an aperture 85 in the base of the U-shaped bracket. As best shown in Fig. 5 each arm of the U-shaped bracket is integrally formed with or attached to a web 23 of the bowl., A detent rod member 86 having a downwardly depending guide stem 87 is located within the U-shaped member and the guide stem passes through the aperture 85. A coil spring 88 is positioned about the guide stem and abuts at one end against the base of the U-shaped bracket 84 and at the other end against the enlarged head portion 89 of the detent to urge the head into engagement with the detent extension 81. The detent has an aperture 90 in the enlarged head portion 89 to receive the ball-like end 48 of the handle member. A coil spring 49 is positioned around the end of the handle and engages the shoulder 43' at one end and the head Portion 89 of the detent surrounding the aperture 90 to resiliently urge the detent iiito sliding contact with the bearing guide surfaces 29. .Lateral movement of the detent with respect to the handle is also limited by the guide surfaces 28 as explained above in connection with Fig. 2. The detent pin 91 extends from the upper portion of the enlarged head 89 of the detent member and projects when moved by the spring 88 into the slot 82 of the flange 81 of the washer. The

slot 82 is generally made sufficiently long to permit shifting from neutral into forward drive positions without detent action. However, the slot is not long enough to permit the control mechanism to move to the reverse or park positions. Then it is necessary to lift the lever 43 at the outer end adjacent the steering wheel rim in order to depress the detent member 86 and remove the detent pin 91 from the slot 82 to permit movement of the control mechanism into reverse or park positions. In this control mechanism, a single lever 64 is attached to the lower end of the control tube 18 to actuate the transmission control mechanism.

The control mechanism shown in Fig. 1 controls the clutching mechanism and actuates either of two shift control levers mounted around the steering column as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The lower portion of the control mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6 is used with the upper portion of the control mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 and provides a clutching mechanism actuated by the control rod 46 located between the control tube 18 and two shift levers. The control mechanism shown in Fig. 1 consisting of the handle 43 and a control tube 18 and the control rod 46 is used in conjunction with the control mechanism of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows the lower end of the steering shaft and the steering column 11 and the control rod 46 and control tube 18 continued as control rod 99 and control tube 100. The upper end of control rod 99 and control tube 100 are the same as control rod 46 and control tube 18 of Figure l. The control tube 100 is supported for rotation concentrically with the steering column 11 by a stepped'sleeve bearing member 101 having a small cylindrical flange or sleeve 102 surrounding the steering column and suitably secured thereto by welding. At the top of the securing flange 102 a radial portion 103 extends outwardly from the steering column and supports the cylindrical bearing sleeve portion 104. A plurality of indentations 105, preferably 3 or 4, are formed in the bearing flange 104 to reduce the friction between the bearing portion 104 and the control tube 100. A split spring member 106 having a normally larger diameter than the bearing 104 is positioned and resiliently secured within the cylindrical bearing portion 104. The spring 106 has inwardly extending undulations, preferably four, engaging the tube 100 to prevent rattling.

The upper shift lever 108 and the lower shift lever 109 both have central apertures 110 and 111 respectively which fit about the control tube 100 in order to mount the shift levers on the control tube for rotary movement. A thrust washer 114 is located between the shift levers or arms 108 and 109 and has a central aperture 115 fitting about the control tube 100 to prevent lateral shifting of the thrust washer 114. The thrust washer 114 has integrally formed therewith an opposed pair of down wardly extending arms 116 which are bent inwardly to provide ends positioned adjacent the outer surface of the cylindrical bearing member 104. A recess 118 is provided at the lower end of each arm 116 which fits over a tab .or stop 119 preferably formed by bending a wall portion washer 127 held in position by a wire snap ring 128 which has inwardly extending undulations 129 extending into slots 130'in the control tube 100. The shift arms 108 and 109 with the thrust washer 114 between them are thus held in position for rotary movement on the control tube 100 by the washers 121 and 126, the snap rings 122 and 128 with the Belleville spring 127 taking up the slack resulting from variations in the dimensions of the parts due to manufacturing tolerances and wear. The control tube has an upper aperture 131 and a lower aperture 132 and an intermediate wall portion 133 bent inwardly to form a U-shaped guide (Fig. 7) for the control rod 99 permitting axial sliding movement and restraining the rod 99 against lateral displacement. The rod 99 is located within the control tube 100 with the outer face engaging the inside surface of the control tube and the guide wall 133 engaging the other three sides. The outer surface of the control rod 99 is exposed throughout the opening formed by the apertures 131 and 132 and a space therebetween where guide wall 133 is located behind the control rod. A clutching dog 134 integrally formed on or secured to the outer surface of the control rod 99 projects through this opening in the control rod beyond the outer surface to cooperate with clutching elements on the shift arms 108 and 109. The shift arm 108 has a clutch slot 135 and thrust washer 114 has a slot 136 and the lower shift lever 109 has a slot 137 for cooperation with dog 134. Each of these slots or grooves extends outwardly from the internal aperture in the shift levers and the thrust washer has a circumferential width slightly greater than the clutching dog 134. Since the axial length of the clutching dog is the same or smaller than the thickness of each of the shift levers 108 and 109, the control rod 99 may-be moved either upwardly or downwardly to engage either lever 108 or 109. When the control rod is in the central position and the clutching dog 134 is in alignment with the slot 136 in the fixed thrust Washer 114 the control tube cannot be rotated to shift. When the control rod 99 is in the upper position the control tube 100 may be rotated in either direction to shift the lever 108 in either direction. When the control rod is in a lower position the control tube 100 may be rotated to shift in either direction to move the shift lever 109 in either direction. The spring 139 has one end secured in aperture 140 in the control rod 99 and the other end fitted in a aperture not shown in the control tube l00 to resiliently urge the control rod 99 to the upper and generally second-third shift position.

The upper portion of the transmission control mechanism illustrated in Fig. l actuates the lower portion shown in Fig. 6. This type of transmission control employs a conventional H-type shift pattern. In this mechanism lever or handle 43 is moved axially or toward and away from the steering wheel rim about the pivot pin 44, it

actuates a control rod 46 through the pivotal connection provided by the bulbous end 48 of the handle and the aperture 47 in the rod. The control rod 46 moves axially of the steering column and actuates the clutching mechanism of Fig. 6. The rotary movement of the shift lever 43 after selector movement of rod 46 to either position; i.e. the first or reverse'or the third and second position, rotates one of the shift levers 108 or 109 which is clutched to the control tube in either direction to control the transmission. The handle 43 is rigidly'pivoted by the pin 44 to the bowl 19 and thus cannot rotate relative to the bowl about the steering column axis. The bowl 19 is also rigidly fixed to the control tube 18. Thus when the handle 43 is rotated about the steering column axis,

the bowl, the control tube and the clutched shift lever rotate as a unit about the steering column axis. The .handle bumper sleeve 24, the rod bumper sleeves 46', and

the spring 49 which positions the upper end of the rod 46 in guide bearings 28 and 29 prevent rattles.

The linkage modification illustrated in Fig. 4 is intended to control a transmission requiring a four-position shift of a single control such as the conventional automatic transmissions. The operation of this control linkage is then similar to the movement of the control linkage illustrated in Fig. 1. When the handle 43 is rotated about the axis of the steering column, the handle i3, the bowl 79 and the shift tube 18 and the shift lever 64 all rotate as a unit about the axis of the ste ring column. During shift movement between the neutral position and the two forward drive positions of the control mechanism the handle 43 has the outer end position away from the steering wheel rim and the detent end 91 moves in the slot 82 in the washer 80. In order to prevent inadvertently shifting into reverse, and thus damaging the transmission and losing control of the vehicle, the length of the slot 82 is such as to prevent rotation of the shift lever 43 into the reverse position. In order to move the shift lever 43 into the reverse position, the outer end must be raised to depress the detent pin 91 below the washer 80 to permit this movement. When the handle 43 is moved from reverse to neutral or a forward drive position the spring 88 automatically raises the detent and the pin 91 enters the slot 82. The same detent action may be employed to prevent inadvertently shifting to other positions such as the park position where the transmission is automatically locked to provide a parking brake.

The transmission control linkage mounted on the steering column illustrated in Fig. 6 is employed with a transmission of the synchromesh type having two shift rails or forks without interlocking mechanism. The upper end of this control mechanism adjacent the steering wheel is shown in Fig. l and described above. In this mechanism the control rod 99 an extension of rod 46 is provided with a clutching dog 134 which alternatively clutches either shift lever 108 or 169 to the control tube 100 an extension of control tube 18. A control rod 99 is normally held in the upper position in engagement with the clutching recess 135 of the second and third shift lever 138. When the clutching dog 134 is in the recess 135 of the lever rotary movement of the handle 43, bowl 19, the control tube 109, and control rod 99 rotates this portion of the assembly and the shift lever 108 to either the second or third position depending on the direction of rotation from the neutral position. When shifting in either reverse or first, the outer end of the hand lever 43 is lifted toward the steering wheel rim and the control rod 99 is depressed to position the clutching dog 134 in the recess .137 of the shift lever 109. Then rotary movement in either direction of hand lever 43 from the neutral position rotates the entire assembly consisting of a bowl, control tube 100, and control rod 99 rotates the lever MP9 to shift the transmission to either the second or third. The slot 136 in the intermediate thrust washer 114 is approximately the same size as the clutching dog 134 and will thus prevent selecting or movement of the control rod 99 axially with the steering column except when both levers and the tube 106 are in the neutral position and shifting movement when both shift levers are clutched to the control tube. The central thrust washer 114 and the slot 136 therein which controls selecting movement of the control rod 99 is held in a fixed position by the arm 116 which is fixed to the bearing support 1G1 by the projection 119 in the recess 118.

While several illustrative preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other modifications may be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis and having snap ring locating means and a recess, a control tube positioned externally around said support and extending axially of said support, a bowl having an inner portion rotatably mounted on said support and an outer portion located outside of said control tube, said bowl and control tube being rigidly fastened together, a hand lever pivotaily mounted on said outer portion of the bowl for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said bowl in a rotary direction with respect to the axis, a rod, guide means on said inner portion of the bowl adjacent the inner end of said hand lever positioning said rod for axial reciprocating movement adjacent the inner end of said hand lever and preventing lateral movement, a pivotal connection between said hand lever and said rod, a spring fixed relative to said bowl and engaging said rod to resiliently urge the rod in one direction to a normal position, means to axially position said inner portion of the bowl including a fixed abutment engaging one side of said inner portion, a resilient member engaging the other side of said inner portion, a washer engaging said resilient member, and a snap ring engaging said washer and fitting into said snap ring locating means on the support, said washer having a tongue extending into said slot in the support to rotatably fix said washer on said support, said washer having a detent stop portion, and a detent element on said rod engaging said detent stop portion to limit rotary movement of said hand lever, bowl, and control tube when the rod is in said normal position and said hand lever being pivoted axially to permit movement of said detent element past said detent stop.

2. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis and having a slot, a control tube positioned externally around said support and extending axially of said support, a bowl having an inner portion rotatably mounted on said support and an outer portion located outside of said control tube, said bowl and control tube being rigidly fastened together, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said outer portion of said bowl for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said bowl in a rotary direction with respect to the axis, a rod, guide means on said inner portion of the bowl adjacent the inner end of said hand lever positioning said rod for axial reciprocating movement adjacent the inner end of said hand lever and preventing lateral movement, a pivotal connection between said hand lever and said rod, a spring fixed relative to said bowl and engaging said rod to resiliently urge the rod in one direction to a normal position, means to axially position said inner portion of the bowl including a washer positioned on said support on one side of said inner portion, said washer having a tongue extending into said slot in the support to rotatably fix said washer on said support, said washer having detent stop portions, and a detent element on said rod engaging said detent stop portions to limit rotary movement of said hand lever, bowl and control tube when the hand lever is in said normal position and said hand lever being pivoted axially to permit movement of said detent element past said detent stop. 7

3. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis and having a control tube positioned externally around said support and extending axially of said support, a bowl having an inner portion rotatably mounted on said support, said bowl and control tube being rigidly fastened together, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said bowl for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said bowl in a rotary direction with respect to the axis, a detent element movably mounted on said bowl, 2. connection between said hand lever and said detent element, a spring mounted fixed relative to said bowl and engaging said detent element to resiliently urge the detent element in one direction to a normal position, means to axially positionsaid inner portion of the bowl on said support, a member having detent stop secured to said support, saidv detent element engaging said detent stop to limit rotary movement of said hand lever, bowl and control tube when the said detent element is in said normal position, and said hand lever being pivoted axially to permit movement of said detent element past said detent stop.

4. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis, a control tube positioned externally around said support and extending axially of said support, a bowl having an inner portion rotatably mounted on said support and an outer portion located outside of said control tube, said bowl and control tube being rigidly fastened together, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said outer portion of said bowl for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said bowl in a rotary direction with respect to the axis, a rod positioned between said support and said control tube, guide means on said inner portion of the bowl adjacent the inner end of said hand lever positioning said rod for axial reciprocating movement adjacent the inner end of the handle and preventing lateral movement, a pivotal connection between said hand lever and said rod, said control tube having an opening formed by two axially spaced apertures and an intermediate Wall portion located remotely from said bowl, said intermediate wall portion being positioned internally of said control tube to provide an internal guide holding said rod in contact with the adjacent internal wall portions of said control tube, a pair of levers having annular portions mounted on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, a thrust washer positioned between said annular portions and nonrotatably fixed to said support, means including a snap ring and a resilient washer engaging the outer sides of said annular portions to axially position said levers on said control tube, interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube, and a passage in said thrust washer allowing movement of said rod in one position and preventing movement in another position.

5. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis, a control tube positioned externally around said support and extending axially of said support, a bowl having an inner portion rotatably mounted on said support and an outer portion located outside of said control tube, said bowl and control tube being rigidly fastened together, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said outer portion of said bowl for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said bowl in a rotary direction with respect to the axis, a rod positioned between said support and said control tube, guide means on said inner portion of the bowl adjacent the inner end of said hand lever positioning said rod for axial reciprocating movement adjacent the inner. end of the handle and preventing lateral movement, a pivotal connection between said hand lever and said rod, said control tube having an opening formed by two axially spaced apertures and an intermediate wall portion located remotely from said bowl, said intermediate wall portion being positioned internally of said control tube to provide an internal guide holding said rod in contact with the adjacent internal wall portions of said control tube, a pair of levers having annular portions mounted on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, a thrust washer positioned between said annular portions and nonrotatably fixed to said support, means engaging the outer sides of said annular portions to axially position said levers on said control tube, interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube, and a passage in said thrust washer allowing movement of said rod in one position and preventing movement in another position.

tion located outside of said control tube, said bowl and control tube being rigidly fastened together, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said outer portion of said bowl for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said bowl in a rotary direction with respect to the axis, a rod positioned between said support and said control tube, guide means on said inner portion of the bowl adjacent the inner end of said hand lever positioning said rod for axial reciprocating movement adjacent the inner end of the handle and preventing lateral movement, a pivotal connection between said hand lever and said rod, said control tube having an opening, an internal guide holding said rod in contact with the adjacent internal wall portions of said control tube, a pair of levers having annular portions mounted on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, a thrust washer positioned between said annular portions and nonrotatably fixed to said support, means including a snap ring and a resilient Washer engaging the outer sides of said annular portions to axially position said levers on said control tube, interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube, and a passage in said thrust washer allowing movement of said rod in one position and preventing movement in another position.

7. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis, a control tube positioned externally around said support and extending axially of said support, a bowl having an inner portion rotatably mounted on said support and an outer portion located outside of said control tube, said bowl and control tube being rigidly fastened together, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said outer portion of said bowl for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said bowl in a rotary direction with respect to the axis, a rod positioned between said support and said control tube, guide means on said inner portion of the bowl adjacent the inner end of said hand lever positioning said rod for axial reciprocating movement adjacent the inner end of the handle and preventing lateral movement, a pivotal connection between said hand lever and said rod, said control tube having an opening, an internal guide holding said rod in contact with the adjacent internal wall portions of said control tube, a lever having an annular portion mounted on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, means engaging the outer sides of said annular portion to axially position said lever on said control tube, and interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portion to clutch said annular portion and lever to said control tube.

8. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis, a control tube positioned on said support and extending axially of said support, a bowl having an inner portion rotatably mounted on said support, said bowl and control tube being rigidly fastened together, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said bowl for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said bowl in a rotary direction with respect to the axis, a rod positioned between said support and said control tube, guide means on said inner portion of the bowl adjacent the inner end of said hand lever positioning said rod for axial reciprocating movement adjacent the inner end of the handle and preventing lateral movement, a pivotal connection between said hand lever and said rod, said control tube having an opening formed by two axially spaced apertures and an intermediate wall portion located remotely from said bowl, said intermediate Wall portion being positioned internally of said'control tube to provide an internal guide holding said rod in contact with the adjacent internal wall portions of said control tube, a pair of levers having annular portions mounted on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, a thrust washer positioned between said annular portions and nonrotatably fixed to said support, means engaging the outer sides of said annular portions to axially position said levers on said control tube, interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube, and a passage in said thrust washer allowing movement of said rod in one position and preventing movement in another position.

9. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis, a control tube positioned on said support and extending axially of said support, a rod positioned within said control tube, said control tube having an opening formed by two axially spaced apertures and an intermediate wall portion, said intermediate wall portion being positioned internally of said control tube to provide an internal guide holding said rod in contact with the adjacent internal wall portions of said control tube, a pair of levers having annular portions mounted on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, a thrust washer positioned between said annular portions and nonrotatably fixed to said support, means engaging the outer sides of said annular portions to axially position said levers on said control tube, interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube, and a passage in said thrust washer allowing movement of said rod in one position and preventing movement in another position.

10. In a transmission control assembly, a support extending longitudinally along an axis, a control tube positioned on said support and extending axially of said support, a rod positioned within said control tube, said control tube having an opening formed by two axially spaced apertures and an intermediate wall portion, said intermediate wall portion being positioned internally of said control tube to provide an internal guide holding said rod in contact with the adjacent internal wall portions of said control tube, a pair of levers havin annular portions mounted on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, means engaging the outer sides of said annular portions to axially position said levers on said control tube, and interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube.

ll. In a transmission control assembly, a support having an axis, a member rotatably mounted on said support for rotary movement about the axis, a control tube secured to said member for rotation with said member about the axis and extending axially, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said member for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said member in a rotary direction about the axis to rotate said hand lever, said member and said control tube as an assembly, a detent element mounted on said member for substantially axial move ment having means engaging said hand lever to move said detent element with a portion of said hand lever from a free position to an engaged position, and stop means fixed on said support engaging said detent element in said engaged position to limit rotary movement of said member.

12. In a transmission control assembly, a support having an axis, a member rotatably mounted on said support for rotation about the axis, bearing means fixed to said support and engaging said member to limit axial movement of said member relative to said support, a control tube secured to said member for rotation with said member about the axis and extending axially, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said member for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said member in a rotary direction about the axis to rotate said hand lever, said member and said control tube as an assembly, a

detent element mounted on said member for substantially axial movement having means engaging said hand lever to move said detent element with a portion of said hand lever from a free position to an engaged position, and said bearing means including stop means fixed on said support engaging said detent element in said engaged position to limit rotary movement of said member.

13. In a transmission control mechanism, a support having an axis, a rotary assembly including a member rotatably mounted on said support for rotary movement about the axis, a control tube secured to said member for rotation with said member about the axis and etxending axially, and a hand lever pivotally mounted on said memher for axial pivotal movement and being rigid with respect to said member in a rotary direction about the axis to rotate said hand lever, said member and said control tube as an assembly, a detent element mounted on said member for substantially axial movement having means engaging said hand lever to move said detent element with a portion of said hand lever from a free position to an engaged position, stop means fixed on said support engaging said detent element in said engaged position to limit rotary movement of said member, and spring means mounted on said rotary assembly and biasing said detent to said engaged position.

14. In a transmission control assembly, a support, a control tube rotatably mounted on said support for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said control tube, said control tube having a portion of the tube wall displaced inwardly to form an opening in the tube wall, a rod positioned within said tube adjacent said tube wall and extending axially of said tube and over said opening, said portion of the tube wall having means supporting said rod on said tube for reciprocal movement with respect to said control tube and bodily arcuate translatory movement with said control tube, a pair or levers having annular portions mounted externally on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, means axially positioning said levers on said control tube, and interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions cooperating through said opening to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube.

15. In a transmission control assembly, a support, a control tube rotatably mounted on said support for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said control tube, said control tube having an opening in the tube wall, a rod positioned within said tube adjacent said tube wall and extending axially of said tube and over said opening, means supporting said rod on said tube for reciprocal movement with respect to said control tube and bodily arcuate translatory movement with said control tube, a pair of levers having annular portions mounted externally on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement, means axially positioning said levers on said control tube, and interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions cooperating through said opening to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube.

16. In a transmission control assembly, a support, a control tube rotatably mounted on said support for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said control tube, said control tube having an opening in the tube wall, a rod positioned adjacent said tube wall and extending axially of said tube and over said opening, means supporting said rod on said tube wall for axial reciprocal movement with respect to said control tube and bodily arcuate translatory movement with said control tube, a pair of levers having annular portions rotatably mounted on said control tube over said opening for rotary movement with respect to said tube, means axially positioning said levers on said control tube, and interengaging clutch means on said rod and annular portions to alternatively clutch either annular portion and lever to said control tube.

(References on following page) 13 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,489,735 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,579 Butzbach Nov. 21, 1939 2,185,830 Burt Jan. 2, 1940 2,231,740 Wharam Feb. 11, 1941 2,235,975 Best Mar. 25, 1941 582,303

14 Zancan Nov. 29, 1949 Squire Jan. 29, 1952 Adams May 21, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Aug. 12, 195 3 

